Lubricant dispenser



Jan. 18, 1938. H. R. 1EAR LUBRICANT DISPENSER Filed March 3, 1937 2Sheets-Sheet 1 s w s w v .MV c ci, l

INVENToR. I Har/jy JQ. Tear BY WWYM A ToRNEYs.

Jan. 18, 1938 H.R.TEAR

LUBRICANT DISPENSER Filed March 3, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .v5/iin I l zisis E@ .a 1 f.

A TToRNExs.

Patented IJan. 18, 1938 LUBBICAN T DISPENSER Harry R. Tear, Evanston,lll., assignor to The Lubrication Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a. corporation of Delaware Application March 3,1937, serial No. 128,723

30 Claims.

wards from the empty can if it is kept right side up. With this objectin view, I arrange the apparatus so that one end of the can is firstpunctured to provide an outlet or discharge opening, and is then cut outand forced toward the bottom of the can to .force the contents outthrough the discharge opening. This end of the can is preferably facedwith a packing member, such as a disk of cardboard,.formed`with acentral opening which registers with the above-described dis-l chargeopening formed in the can end.

Another object of the invention is to provide the apparatus with powerfor performing the cutting operations. In the embodiments selected forillustrations, a piston operated by compressed air is arranged to movethe cutters and the can relatively to each other as described above, andpreferably also operates the means for forcing the oil from the can.

f An. important feature of the invention, embodied in the preferred formherein described, has to do'with simplifying the construction of appa-3o ratus of this character, by supporting the cut-out can end againstmovement and forcing the can body upward over it. g

The means shown for cutting :out the can end,

and supporting it while the oiifis-,forced out ofv 35 the can, includesa plunger long' enough to force the cut-outv can end to the bottom ofthe can, and which is stationarily mounted if the air pressure moves thecan body over the plunger, orv is moved by the air pressure to actuatethe cut-out can end if the can body is stationarily supported.

This plunger has at its forward end a seal engaging the can end in azone surrounding the discharge opening and is provided with a passagethrough which-the oil is forced from said I opening to a suitableconduit'designed for in.

sertion into the filler opening of a transmission casing or differentialhousing or the like. The

'seal is preferably mounted yieldngly on theplunger, in a novel mannerdescribed below, so that it is held firmly against the can end while itis being out, and then shifts it forward ahead ,55- cannot possiblydamagethe can bottom.

The above and other objects and features of the invention, including anovel interlock preventing the opening of the air valve when theapparatus is opened up for the insertion of anew can, andl other novelcombinations and de- 5 sirable arrangements of parts, will be apparentfrom the following description of the illustrative embodiments shown inthe accompanying drawings, in which: n 'y Figure 1 is a sectionlongitudinally through one lo embodiment of the invention, in which thecan body is moved and the cut-out can end is stationary in dispensingthe contents-of the can;

Figure 2 is a section through the can or cartridge, showing thearrangement of the packing 15 member; and

Figures 3 and 4 are sections .through other embodiments.

The package or container intended to be used with the illustratedapparatus is preferably a can or cartridge having the end structureshownv in Figure 2. 'I'his can includes a can body I0, formed in anyusual manner, and having seamed thereto ends I2, either of lwhich isintended to be cut out entirely free from the can body, and moved as' apiston to the bottom of the can to Y force out the contents. Each ofthese ends is shown faced with a packing member such as an annularcardboard disk I4 or the like arranged to leave a central unobstructedcan-end portion IB adapted to be pierced as described below, to 3o forman outlet or discharge opening.

The above-described container is claimed in my application No. 110,968,led November 16, 1936.

Whether or not this exact form of container is used, the can of oil ispreferably arranged- (as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1) in atwo-part housing. One part Il!y of the housing is long enough to receivethecan and (in this particular embodiment) serves'asa cylinder for anair-op- 40 erated piston 20 which forcesA the opposite end` of the canagainst the knives or cutters of the apparatus.

The other part 2 2 of this form of housing contains a novel plungerdevice 24 which supports the cut-out perforated `end of the can whilethe -plston 20 forces the can body over it to discharge the oil. Thetwoparts of the housing are de@ tachably connected by any suitablemeanasuch as a series of lugs 26' on one of the 50' may be provided,forexample at; its center, with u a relief valve 80 shown as consisting oftwo connected members `4m opposite sides of the piston, one of thesemembers being a disk which is pushed back into seated position, to sealthe port through the piston, by placing of'the can of oil in thehousing. The piston carries a bumper spring 32,

the end convolution of which is shown attached to the piston by meanssuch as an attaching stamping 34.

The end of part |8 of the housing'is'hown as a die-cast element 36threaded to the end of the cylindrical portion of the housing. part, andwhich is formed with means such as a threaded socket 88 for theattachment of an air hose or the like.

This element 38 is formed with an inlet air passage controlled by avalve member 40 urged toward closed or seated position by a spring 42and opened by means such as a pivoted lever 44 arranged 'for convenientmanual operation. When the valve 40 is seated, the space back of piston20 is vented through a passage 46. It will be seen that the depressionof lever 44 causes the can to be forced forward by the pressure of theair behind the piston 20.

The novel stationary plunger 24 is hollow, to

form an oil discharge passage 50 communicating with a suitable spout orcurved conduit 52, shown as normally closed by a spring-held check valve54. The plunger is supported by being threaded at .one end into adiecast end element 56, to

which the spout 52 may also be threadedly connected.

The other end of the plunger 24 has threaded there-into a hollowshouldered fitting 58, the inlet in the end of which has associatedtherewith an outwardly-opening ball check valve 60, prevented from unduedisplacement by any suitable means such as a retainer 62 held in placeby a washer 64 clamped between the plunger 24 and the end of the fitting58. The end of the fltting has rigidly mounted thereon a knife or cutter66 shapedv to punch out an outlet or discharge opening in the end of the4can' when the piston 20 n pushes it forward.

Ihe end of the fitting 58 is slidably embraced by a seal consisting vofstamplngs 68 and 10,.em

26). The knives or cutters 66 and |80 are mountbracing between them atone end, a packing 12 encircling the fitting 58 behind the shoulderformed thereon, and formed to support at the other end a packing 14engageable with the can end in a zone encircling the opening formed bythe cutter 56. 9 A

A relatively heavy coil spring 16, held incompression between the sealjust described and a cup-shaped stamped retainer -18 seated against theend of the plunger `24, permits the seal to yield as the can is forcedforward, during the operation (first) of the knife or cutter '66 and(second) while the end of the can is cut out from the can body by anannular knifeor cutter seated against, and suitably secured to', thestationary retainer 18. y

The end of the can, as it is forcedforward to cut out the end in thismanner, engages the end edge of an annular member 82 backed up by aspring 84 (which may be considerably .lighter thanthe spring 16). Thespring 84 is shown confined between the member 82 and the diecast endA56, which is shown formed with an annular recess receiving the end ofthe spring. Member -82 is.formed"with an annular shoulder which servesas a stop against which the element 82 is urged by its spring 84.

Theknife 80 may be arranged to start cutting before knife 65 has nishedits operation, as the latter continues its operation until the end ofthe can is entirely severed from the can body.

During this cutting operation, the seal 68-14 yields against theresistance of the spring 16. As

soon as the can end is cut free, the spring 16 pushes it forward untilthe pressure of the spring on the seal balances the pressure on the oilin the can frompiston 20.

After the end of the can is formed with an outlet opening by the cutter66, and after the f a stop shoulder 80 formed on the diecast end 56.

When the piston 20 stops in the position s`o determined, which is beforeeither of the cutters 55 or 80 engages the'bottom of the can, the spring18 forces the cut-out can end clear down to the bottom of the can, thuscompleting the discharge of the oil without in any way damaging the canbody.

The embodiments of Figures 3 and 4 differ from that of Figure lprincipally in that the can body is held stationary, while the cut-outlcan end is moved to the bottom of .the stationary can body to dischargethe contents. The embodiment of Figure V3 differs from that of Figure 4principally in that the apparatus is provided with a booster piston oflarger diameter for operating the cutters, this being desirable whenhighpressure air is not available. Where the parts in Figures 3 and 4are the same as in Figure l,I the same reference characters are used';where the parts are not the same, but' have the same or analogousfunctions, the reference characters are increased by |00 in Figure 3 andby 200 in Figure 4.

Figure 3 shows a lowpressure gun" having the can held stationary in atwo-part housing ||8- 22 (shown with the bayonet connections of thepiston |20.

The lower portion of the casing .has three sec- One'of these is adie-casting |28, into the end of which the casing portion |22 is shownthreaded, andv which is formedwith aaleeve portion |21, provided with aleather sealing packing |28, encircling and guidingly supporting theplunger |24, and providing an air seal for the operation of the boosterpiston as described below.

The two other sections are coaxial tubes |3| land |38, of differentdiameters, both threaded into the section |23 and the outer one threadedinto the end section |56, leaving between them an annular-air passagel|35 leading to the pressure face of theA piston |20. The inner tube |3|forms a cylinder for the piston |20. The springs |84 are arrangedcoaxially within these tubes and coaxially about the `plunger |24. l:

A'tions connecting the vcasing portions |22 and |56.

-an air-cylinder |63 for the piston |59 and this,

as well as the passage |35, communicates with an air inlet passage |65leading from the inlet port |38 and controlled by the valve l|40 thehead of which is engaged by an operating pin on the lever |44.

The stroke of piston spring |94, and'hasl at its upper end a pin |96 yor the like which is brought by downward movel description of Figures1-and 3.

ment of the pa'wl into the path of a stop finger |98 on the upper end ofthe lever |44; to prevent j the operation of the lever to open the airvalve. The lower end of the pawl |92 is bent over to ride in a slot 200in the casing section |22, in thevpath of a cam surface 20| formed onthe casing section I8, so that the insertion and turning of the latterto secure it tothe section |22 forces the pawl upwardly to release theair valve. It desired, the pawl-engaging surface could be provided onthe can instead of on the casing section |I8.

In the operation of this embodiment, after the closing of the casingIIB- |22 releases the air valve, operation of the lever |44 supplies airto the cylinder |63 aswell as to the passage |35. 'I'he operation is inthefollowing sequence: (1) the pistons |59 and |20 operate the cutter 96to form a discharge outlet opening in the can and at the same timetoseat the seal 68'.'|4 against' the can end; (2) both pistons |59 and|20 operend; and (3) the piston |20 moves the can end to the bottom ofthe can to discharge. the contents. Parts in Figure 4 which are notexactly th same as, but which are analogous to, parts shown in Figure 3,are indicated by the same reference characters increased by .100. It isbelieved that the operation. will be apparent from the foregoing Itshould be noted, however, that there is no booster piston inthisembodiment, and piston 220 does al1 the work of operating the two knives88 and 280, until a stop boss 290 formed on the piston engages thestationary flange 221. There are two coaxial springs 218 acting on theseal in this embodiment, to increase the pressure lon the seal.

The safety pawl 292 is pulled downward, against the resistance of itsspring 294, to move pin 296 out of the path of part 298 of lever 244, byan inclined cam slot 2|9 in casing section 2|8 which receives a ca m pinon the end of the pawl 292 and forces it downwardly as the bayonet lugs26 are locked by turning the casing section |20 is determined byerigagement of the piston with a stationary stop said closed end and forforcing material through an opening in said closed end, comprising anannular knife engageable with said closed end adjacent saidside wall tocut out said end and a. cutter within the outline of said knife adaptedto make an opening in said end, means for relatively moving the package.and said knife andx20 cutter to form an opening in said end and then?.

cut it-away from the side wall, and means for' moving said cut end andsaid package relatively to each other to force the material from thepackage through said opening,

2. A dispenser comprising an original package of substantiallycylindrical side wall shape and having a closed end adapted to besubstantially wholly cut away, and means for cutting away said closedend and for forcing material from said package comprising an annularknife engageable with said closed end adjacent said side wall to cut outsaid end and a cutter adapted to make an opening in said package, poweroperated means for relatively moving the package and said knife andcutter t form an opening in said end and-then cut it away from the sidewall, and power-operated means for moving said cut end and said packagerelatively to each other yto cutter within the outline of said knifeadapted ate the annular cutter |80 to cut out the can f to make anopening in said end, power-operated means for relatively moving thepackage and said knife and cutter to form an opening in said end andthen c'ut `it away from the side wall, and means for moving said cut endand said package relatively to each other to force the material from thepackage through said opening.

4. Dispensing ,apparatus having meansv for -forming a discharge outletin one end of a can, a substantiallyring-shaped knife for cutting outthe'end formed withthe discharge outlet, and means for` relativelymoving the can and said end for effecting the discharge' of the canscontents through saidoutlet.

5. Dispensing apparatus having Y means for forming a. discharge outletin o ne end of a can,

a substantially ringshapedknife for' cutting out one end of the can,fluid pressure means for moving the knife and the can relatively wherebythe knife -cuts out the 'can end, and means for relatively moving thecan and said cut-out end for effecting the discharge of the canscontents one end of a can,`a substantially ringshap'ed knife for cuttingout one end of the can, iluid pressure means for moving the knife andthe can relatively whereby the knife cuts out the 5 can end, and meansfor relatively moving the.

can and said cut-out end for effecting the discharge of the canscontents through said outlet.

7. Dispensing apparatus comprising a device having a space to receivethe end of a can,

means for holding a can with its end'in said space; an annular knife anda-cutter within the outline of the. knife to act on said end of the canto fo'rm a discharge opening in and to cut out said end of the can, andmeans for effecting relative movement of the-can and said cut-out end todischarge the contents of the can through said opening.

8. Dispensing apparatus comprising a device having a space to receivetheend of a can, means for holding a can with its end in said space, a

. cutter arranged to form a discharge opening in the can, an annularknife arranged to act on one end of the can tocut out said end of thecan, fluid pressure means for Amoving .the knife and the can relatively`whereby the knife cuts out the can end, and means for `effecting'relative movement of the can and said cut-out end lto discharge thecontents of the can through said opening.

9. Dispensing apparatus comprising a device having a space to receivethe end of a can, means for holding a'can with its end in said space, apower-operated cutter arranged to form a discharge opening in the can,-an annular knife A arranged to act on one end of the can to -cut outlsaid end of the can, fluid pressure means for moving the knife and thecan'relatively whereby the knife cuts out the can end,.and means foreffecting relative movement of the 40 can and said cut-out end todischarge the contents of the can through said opening.

10. Dispensing apparatus comprising, in combination with a can havingone end faced internally with a packing member having a central opening,a device receiving said end of^the can, means for holding the can andsaid device together, means for forming a discharge opening through saidend within the outline of the opening in the packing member, means forcutting said end free from the can, and means for relatively moving thecan and the cut-out end with its packing member, to force the contentsof the can out through the discharge opening.

11. Dispensing apparatus comprising, in combination with av can havingone end faced internally with a packing member having a central opening,a device receiving said end of the can, means for holding the can andsaid device together, means for forming a discharge opening 30 throughsaid end within the outline of the opening in the packing member, andpower-operated means for cutting said end fre'from the can and for thenrelatively moving the can and the cut-out end with `its packing member,to force v the contents of the can out through the discharge opening.

' 12. The process of dispensing material from a can filled therewith andsealed with a packing member internally facing one of its ends andformed with a central opening, which comprises puncturing a dischargeopening through said end of the can within the outline of said` centralopening in the packing member, Tcutting said end free from the can, andrelatively moving the can and the cut-out end with its packing member toforce the material from the can through the discharge opening.

13. Dispensing apparatus comprising a device associated with the end ofa can and having a blade for puncturing saidv end of the can and anannular seal engageable with said end surrounding said blade and havingan annular cutter to cut out said end of the can outside of said seal,whereby the cut-out end may be forced through the can to dispensel thecontents thereof through the punctured portion.

X 15. Dispensing apparatus comprising a circular knife for severing oneend of a can from the can body, a cutter for forming a discharge openingingsaid end ,of the can, a plunger supporting the knifel and cutter andhaving an annular seal-for engaging the cut-out end around the dischargeopening. and having a discharge passage communicating with the dischargeopening within said seal,'a support engaging the can, and means forrelatively moving the support and the plunger to dispense material fromsaid can.

16. Dispensing apparatus comprising a circular knife for severing oneend of a-can from the can`body, a cutter fofforming a discharge openin gin saidcan, a plunger supporting the knife and having a part engagingthe cut-out end, an annular seal for engaging the can around thedischarge opening, a part having a'discharge passage communicating withthe discharge opening withinsaid seal, a support engaging the can, andpower-operated parts for relatively moving the support and the .plungerto dispense material from said can.

17. Dispensing apparatus comprising a circular knife for severing oneend of a can from the can body, a cutter for forming a discharge openingin said end of the can, a plunger supporting the knife and cutter andhaving an annular seal for iengaging the cut-out end around thedischarge fiopeni'ng and having a discharge passage communicating withthe discharge opening within said seal, a support engaging the can, anda fluid actuated piston for relatively moving the'support and theplunger to dispense material from said can.

18. Dispensing apparatus comprising means to cut out one end of a canadjacent the can wall, and to form a discharge opening in said end, aplunger having means for supporting the cutout end against movement, andhaving a discharge passage communicating with said opening, and meansfor moving the can body over the cut-out end while so supported, todischarge the contents of the can through said opening.

19. Dispensing apparatus comprising means to cut out one end of a ,canadjacent the can wall, means to form a discharge opening in said can, aplunger having means for supporting the cutout end, a discharge conduitcommunicating with said carried by said plunger and arranged to cut saidend of the can free from the can body after it is punctured by saidcutter, and means for relatively moving the can body and the plunger todispense the contents of the can through the conduit.

21. A dispenser of the class described comprising a tubular plungerAhaving a discharge conduit telescoping said plunger and communicatingwith its interior space and having at its end an annular seal engageablewith one end of a can, a cutter mounted on said plunger within theoutline of said seal and adapted to puncture said end of the can, anannular knife carried by said plunger and arranged to cut said end ofthe can free from the can body after it is punctured by said cutter, andmeans for moving said plunger into the can in telescoping relation tosaid conduit, to dispense the contents of the can through said conduit.

, 22. A dispenser of the class described comprising a stationary tubularplunger having a discharge conduit connected thereto and having its endengageable with one end of a can, a cutter adapted to puncture one endof the can, a seal engaging the can around said cutter, an annular knifearranged to cut the end of the can engaged by the plunger free from thecan body after the can is punctured by said cutter, and means for movingthe can body over the plunger to dispense the contents of the canthrough the conduit.

` carried by said plunger and arranged to cut said end of the can freefrom the can body after it is punctured by said cutter, and means forrelatively moving the lcan body and the plunger to dispense the contentsof the can through the conduit, together with a spring interposedbetween the seal and a part carried by said plunger, the seal beinglyieldable relatively to the plunger against the resistance of the springwhile the cutter and the knife are operated on the can as described.

2 4. A dispenser of the class described comprlsing a tubular plungerhaving a discharge conduit telescoping said plunger and communicatingwith its interior space and having at its end an annular seal engageablewith one end of a can, a

cutter mounted on said plunger within the outline of said seal andadapted to puncture said end of the can, an annular knife carried bysaid plunger and arranged to cut said end of the can free from the canbody after it is punctured by said cutter,

and means for moving said plunger into the can intelescoping relation tosaid conduit, to dispense the contents of the can throughsaid con;-duit, together with an air-operated piston for actuating the plunger andits associated parts to dispense the contents ofthe can, and a spring toreturn the plunger and its associated parts to initial position afterthe can is empty.

25. A dispenser of the class described comprising a stationary tubularplunger having a discharge conduit connected thereto and having its endengageable with one end of a can, a cutter adapted to puncture one endof the can, a seal engaging the can around said cutter, an annular knifearranged to cut the end of the can engaged by the plunger free from thecan body after the can is punctured by said cutter, and means formovingv the can body over the plunger to dispense the vcontents of thecan through the conduit, together with a spring interposed between theseal and a part carried by said plunger, the seal being yieldablerelatively to the plunger against the resistance of the spring while thecutter and the knife are operating on the can as described.

26. A dispensing apparatus comprising airoperated means for cutting outone end of a can and forcing it through the can body to dispense thecontents of the can, means for supporting a can for the operationthereon of said air-operated means, a valve having a manually-operatedconvtrol member and controlling the supply of air" to the air-operatedmeans, and an interlock preventing operation of the control memberunless a can is in position supported by the supporting means.

27. A dispensing apparatus comprising airoperated means for cutting outone end of a can and forcing it through the can body to dispense thecontents of the can, means for supporting a can for the operationthereon of said air-operated means, a valve having a manually-operatedcontrol member and controlling the supply of air to the air-operatedmeans, and an interlock preventing operation of the control member andwhich is moved out of the way by the can-supporting means. v

28. A dispenser of the class described comprising a tubular plungerhaving adischarge conduit communicating with its interior space andhaving at its end an annular seal engageable with one end of a can, acutter mounted on said plunger within the outline of said seal andadapted to puncture said end of the can, an annular knife carried bysaid plunger and arranged to-cut said end of the can free from the canbody after it is punctured by said cutter, and means for relativelymoving the can body and the plunger to dispense the contents of the canthrough the conduit, together with a stop preventing engagement of thecutter and the knife with the opposite end of the can.

29. That method of dispensing the contents of a can which comprisesforming an opening in one end of the can, cutting one end of the canfree from the can body, supporting a discharge means in sealed relationtothe end of the can around said opening, supporting the cut-out end ofthe can against movement, and moving the can body forcibly over saidsupported cutout end vto force its contents through the discharge means.

30. That method of dispensing the contents of a can which comprisesforming an opening in one end of the can, cutting said end of the canfree from the can body, supporting a discharge means in sealed relationto said end of the can around said opening, supporting said cutout endof the can against movement, and moving the can body forcibly over saidsupported cutout end to force its contents through the discharge means.

HARRY R. TEAR.

